Paper-box machine.



No. 737,819. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903. W. G.. BAXTER.

PAPEE B0X MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1902.

w: Nunn@ Farms co. vwo-mmm., wAsumerorA n. r.

l PATENTED SEPT. l, 1903. W. C. BAXTER.

PAPER BOX MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. 1902.

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No. 737,819. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 190s. w. c. BAXTER.

PAPER B0X MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 12, 1902.

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No. 737,819. PATENTED SPT. l, 1903. W. C. BAXTER.

. PAPER BOX MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 12, 1902.

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W. C. BAXTER.

No MODEL.

PATENTED SEPT. 1, 190s.

PAPER B0X MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12v 1902.

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No. 737,819. i Patented September 1-, 1903i.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VVIIJIJIAM C. BAXTER, OF EAST BRIDGEVVATER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TOUNITED STATES AUTOMATIC BOX MACHINERY COMPANY, OF .BRIDGE WATER,MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PAPER-BOX MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,819, datedSeptember 1, 1903. Y

Application filed July 12| 1902. Serial No. 115.305. (No model.)

To all whom t may @0N/067%: blank of the pile of blanks when the latter5 Be it known that I, VILLIAM C. BAXTER, a blank is lifted by the gummer-picker. citizen of the United States, residing at East Anotherobject of my invention provides Bridgewater, in the county of Plymouthand novel and effective means for shedding the State of Massachusetts,have invented an Imcompleted box from the former.

provement in Paper-Box Machines, of which These and other novel featuresof my inventhe following description, in connection with tion will befully described hereinafter and the accompanyingdrawings,isaspecification, particularly pointed out in the followinglike characters on the drawings representing claims. 1o like parts. Thegeneral organization of the machine is This invention relates tomachines formaksubstantially the same as shown in the patents 6o ingboxes from cardboard,pasteboard,or other hereinbefore referred to,andlin the following suitable blanks, of the general type ofappaspecification only so much of the old mechanratus shown in UnitedStates Patent No. ism will be referred to as may be necessary to519,531, dated May 8, 1891, and later patents, a proper understanding ofthe novel features No. 546,318, September 17, 1898, and No. of mypresent invention. 681,652, dated August 27, 1901. Such later Figure 1isaleft-hand end elevation of the patents were for improvements on,additions machine shown in Fig. 2, the mechanism for to, or variationsof certain features or mechoperating the side and end followers being zoanismsembodiedintheearlierpatent;and my omitted in order to more clearlyillustrate present invention, relating to this same type the novelfeatures of my invention. Fig. 2 7o of machine, provides for furtherimproveis a side elevation of the apparatus, the pile ments thereinwhich have become necessary of blanks being shown at the right-hand endin order to enable the parent machine to hanthereof. Fig. 2 is anenlarged perspective 25 dle work of a greater range and to insure detailof a part of the blank-feeding means.

increased accuracy in operation. Fig. 2b is an enlarged detail of a partof the 75 One object of my present invention is to mechanism shown inFig. 2 for effecting the provide for the positioning of the blank withaccurate positioning of the blank beneath the the greatest accuracyinreadiness for the acformer. Fig. 2c is an enlarged perspective 3o tionof the former and other cooperating de- View of a part of the sheddingmeans. Fig.

vices which fold orbend the parts of the blank 3 is a partial top orplan view, enlarged, of 8e to make the completed box. the mechanismshown in Figs. l and 2, but Another object of the invention is the proVWith the arches or frames for sustaining the vision of means foraccurately and readily former and glimmer-picker and such parts 35handling the blanks from which long or deep omitted, the blank beingshown as just about boxes are to be made, such blanks by their to bepositioned beneath the formen Fig. peculiar shape having presented newprob- 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the mechlems to be solved inthe mechanism for hananism shown in plan in Fig. 3 viewing the dling thesame. latter from the side nearest the spectator. 4o Another object isthe .production of means Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical forovercoming the effect ofthe suction besectional view taken through theformer and 9o tween adjacent blanks when the topmost former-shaft toshow clearly Vthe novel shedblank of the pile is engaged by thegummerding means. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail, in picker and liftedpreparatory to the feeding side elevation, showing the positioned blank45 of the blank to the forming mechanism. resting on the followers andthe former on Frequently two or more blanks will be lifted, its downwardstroke, just touching the blank, owing to the suction action betweenthem, and the nearerside follower being omitted. Fig. I have providednovel separating means to 7 is a similar view, but showing the former 4separate the second blank from the topmost as having continued itsmovement far enough to begin the formation of the box in full lines, thesubsequent position of the parts being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 8 isan enlarged view of the controlling-cams for governing the operation ofthe various mechanisms which act upon the blank. Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview of the blank flattened out, showing the gummed surface and thegeneral shape or con figuration of the blank to be handled by thevarious mechanisms embodying my invention. Fig. lO is a similar view,but showing the blank after a partial bending or forming has beeneffected.

It may be stated here that the formation of comparatively large boxeshaving a very considerable depth relative vto their cross-sectional areahas given rise to some grave difficulties in practice,necessitating theconstruction of means for overcoming the same, and my present inventionin certain of` its features'deals more particularly therewith, while.other features of the invention have a broad or general application tomachines forvmak- I ing paper boxes, as will more fully appear v ingshown by the shaded parts bXX.

hereinafter.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, bx represents the bottom, oblong in shape;b b the opposite long sides, the former having the longijcover flap b5,while the opposite -side b has a prolongation h6 between and beyond thestaysections b2 to constitute the cooperating coverflap. When the box iscompleted, the end sections b3 are bent over or folded on the dottedlines 2 3 to complete the cover or top of the box, and when the latteris completed the stay-section b2 and adjacent bottom-stay b4 will be inthe same plane and stuckto the outer end section b3 by the gummedportion 'XX thereof.

In Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the pile of blanks B is shown as piled on anautomatic elevator of any suitable construction common in envelop andbox machines, over which pile moves the gummer-picker, comprising avertically-reciprocating shaft f, to which are attached the dependinggummer members g', supplied with gum at the proper time by agum-supplying roll C, Fig. 2, mounted to slide hori- `zontally onsupports q and operated by suitable mechanism forming no part of myinvention. The gumming-faees of the members g are of the shape of thesurface to be gummed, and herein such shape corresponds y i to theshaded portions bXX in Fig. 9, there beingtwo gummer members inthe'present instance. The reciprocation of the shaft f is effected bythe rocker-arm f4 on the usual rock-shaft f5, to which latter rockingmotion is periodically imparted substantially in a manner well known inmachines of this type; but to give some yield to the gummer-picker inits descent I have provided the rocker-arm f with a lateral pin f2 toenter a slot f3 in the link f6 of the actuating mechanism, a spring s,attached at one end to the arm f', being secured at its other end to thelink and normally acting to retain the pin f2 in the bottom of the slot.If for any reason the glimmer-picker cannot descend the normal distance,the link f6 can complete its stroke, the spring stretching while the pinf2 travels in the slot f8, and a smash of the parts is obviated. Whenthe gummer members g' descend upon and gum the topmost blank of thepile, the said blank is lifted by the ascent of the gum mer-picker, andsometimes the suction between the blanks .will cause two or more blanksto adhere and be lifted with the topmost blank, so that the operation ofthe machine is interfered with and annoying stoppage and delay ensue. Inorder to prevent such accidents, I have provided means to effeetuallyseparate thev second blank of the pile from the topmost blank when thelatter is lifted, and to this end I have mounted on the frame twoupright posts t t, longitudinally notched at tx, Fig. 3, to receive theleading corners of the blank-'pile and act as positioning-gagestherefor. A cross-bar t is secured to the gages, and blocks 252 arefastened to the cross-bar in such a position as will enable the flatfaces of thin blade-like separators t3 to engage edges of the blanks,said separators being attached to the blocks. Herein I have so locatedthe latter that the blades enter the slits 2 2 of the blanks. Now

when the topmost blank is lifted by the gummer-picker the adhesiveaction ofA the gum will be lgreater than the frictional action betweenthe separators t3 and the contacting edges of said blank; but suchfriclional action between the next blank below andk the separators isgreat enough to overcome any adherence between the top and second blanksdue to suction or otherwise, and only the topmost blank will beliftedfrom the pile byitself. Any suitable means may be employed to strip thegummed blank from the members g' at the proper time, and as suchstripping devices are common in envelop and paper-box machines, typesthereof being shown in the @patents referred to hereinbefore, I do not-herein show or describe such devices in detail, it sufticing to saythat the bars u, Fig. 2, are similar to those shown in Patent No.546,318 and operate, as therein described, to vstrip the blank from thegummer-picker at the proper time.

The box-forming mechanism is generically such as is shown in the patentshereinbefore referred to,and comprises a former F,attached `to avertically-reciprocated hollow plunger or vrshaft F', mounted in thearch-frame Q, and a folding box or throat constituted by the endfollowers B B and the vertical or upstanding IOO llO

side-folding plates D D, adj ustably arranged in opposite pairs on theslides E, which extend across the bed-plate QX of the main frame and arereciprocated by or through the rocking of the rock-shafts 47, havingarms 48, pivotally connected with links 49, the lower ends of the lattercooperating with and being actuated by suitable cams, all substantiallyas in Patent No. 519,531. When the former F has descended part way, themovable parts B B and D D have their closing movements, the latter'acting upon the long opposite sides b b' of the blank, while the endfollowers operate to press the gummed end sections b3 upon the corner orstay sections b2 in wellknown manner. The toggle mechanism for movingthe end followers B B is not shown herein for the sake of clearness, andit is in practice substantially as shown in Patent No.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 6 the throat members are shown in the positionassumed as the former F is descending, the said members standing at theboundaries of a rectangle somewhat larger than the box-bottom bx, Figs.9 and 10. The horizontal conveyer-rods 7L h are supported by andlongitudinally movable in guides in the followers B in well-knownmanner,hav ing at their forward ends the abutments or abutment-hooks7t7, adjustably secured to the rods, substantially as in PatentNo.681,652, to engage the lateral edges of the blank lifted from the pileby the gommer-picker and under which the conVeyer-rods are thrust, theopposite or feeding stroke of the latter acting to place the blank orblank-supporting means, to be described, over the folding-throat. Across-bar hX, mounted to slide on a stand M at the left-hand end of themachine, Fig. 2, is reciprocated by the swinging arms h on a rock-shafth2, the latter being rocked in usual manner, and the cross-rodisadjust-ably oonnected with the conveyer-rods h by extending between apair of annul'arly-grooved rolls h3, (see Fig. 2%) rotatably mounted ona collar h4, secured by a set-screw 8O to the rod h, one on each.Inasmuch as the end followers B B (in which said rods slide) are movabletoward and from each other, it is necessary to provide for correspondingmovement of the rods relative to the cross-bar hx, and this is effectedby the rolls h3, which permit free lateral movement of the rods andgreatly reduce the friction on the cross-bar, the grooving of the rollspreventing disengagement of the rods and cross-bar.

The plates D in Patent No. 681,652 are provided at their upper outercorners with lips of a peculiar shape to cooperate with the other partsof the box-forming mechanism in folding the blank, and in my presentinvention I make use of similar devices,but modified to adapt them tothe somewhat peculiar character of the work to be performed.

Referring to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the end sections b3 projectlaterally beyond the bottom-stays bl, and in forming the box it isnecessary to bend up the said stays before the end sections b3 are bentin order that the latter may assume their proper position outside of-thebottom-stays. side plates D at the end of the machine nearer theblank-pile BX are provided each with a lip m at the upper outer cornerthereof, the lipsbeing solocated and of such length that they willproject beneath the bottomstays b4 and the adjacent ends of thestaysections b2 when the blank is in proper position to be folded, Whilethe opposite pair of side plates D have at their outer upper cornersprojecting short lips m', laterally odset from the lips m, (see Fig. 3,)the lips m extending beneath the end sections b3 of the blank, but notbeing long enough to engage the bottom-stays, it being remembered thatVin Fig. 3 the blank is shown as slightly beyond its final positionrelatively tothe boxforming mechanism.

The position of the lips m and 'm' when the box is beingformed is shownin Figs. 6 and 7, and as the points of the lips then overlap the objectof laterally offsetting them, as shown in Fig. 3, will be apparent, andby reference to said figure it will also be seen that the lips m arenearer the longitudinal lines on which the stay-sections b2 andbottomstays b are to be folded. This results in turning up the parts 'b2and 540i the blank before the lips m act to turn up the end sections b3,so that the latter will be outside, when the former F descends into thethroat.

It has been found necessary in making boxes of such depth as hereinillustrated to support and lift not only the long sides b and b', butalso to provide for lifting the end sections b3 in unison with the sideb', for in using light-weight stock the sides will bend back if not thuslifted at the time the former descends into the throat, and,furthermore, the end sections b3 of the blank tend to bend down or sagout of the plane of the side b', so that the ,forming mechanism will notoperate properly to make a perfect box. In order to'support and lift theside b', I have provided an elongated lifter m2 concaved in thedirection of its length, and pivoted at or near its inner end on a pinm3, mounted on the left-hand pair of side-folders D D, Fig. 3, to swingbetween them, the end ofthe lifter being extended and down-curved at m4To this end the ICO IIO

to constitute an operating-cam. At its outer and as the former continuesits descent the bottom of the box being formed wipes over the cam m4 andswings the lifter up from the position shown in Fig. 6 to uprightposition,`

(see dotted lines, Fig. 7,) with the `side against the correspondingvertical face of the former F. At this time the cam m4is moved -intodotted-line position out of the path of the descending former as itcarries the partlyfolded blank down into the throatto complete thefolding.

The means for supporting and lifting the end sections h3 and the side Z9of the blank are mounted on the end followers and will now be described.

Brackets N on the bed QX of the frame of the machine, Figs. 3 and 4,support a rockshaft NX, which is extended transverselyA of and throughholes in the end followers B B, and outside of the followers shortupturned arms n are secured to the rock-shaft, the up per ends of thearms having holes to loosely receive inwardly-extended pins n', fast onlugs n2, adjustably held by set-screws 'nx in sockets n3, secured to orforming part of stands N', attached to the slide E nearer the blank-pileoutside the followers B. The latter have a movement toward each otherlongitudinally of the rock-shaft NX, and, remembering that the slide Emoves toward and from the former F, it will be manifest that movement ofthe slide to the left, Figs. 3 and 4 will act through the pins n' andarms n to rock the shaft NX in the directionof arrow 90, Figs. 6 and 7.Hubs n4 are secured to the rock-shaft between the followers, (see Fig.3,) and to each hub a long rod or finger n is secured, the fingers beinglocated in parallelism below the side b of the blank when the latter isin position over the folding-throat, and when the rock-shaft is turned,as has been described, the fingers will rise, (see Fig. 7,) lifting theside b of the blank, as shown, such lifting being simultaneous with theinward or closing movement of the side-folders D D. l have providedfingers n for supporting and lifting the end sections b3 of the blank,said fingers being secured to hubs nl, fulcrumed outside of the endfollowers on lateral pins ns, attached thereto, each hub having adepending offset arm ni to receive loosely in its lower end a stud n10,inturned from a shank w12, secured adjustably in the adjacent end of thestand N by a setscrew w13. The movement of the stands N which operatesto rock the rock-shaft N also operates through the devices described torock the hubs 'nl and swing the fingers n from the position shownl inFig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7, the lifting movement of the ngers ns andn being timed to act in unison with the lifting movement of theside-lifter m2, hereinbefore described.

In Fig. 7 the extreme upward movementof the two pairs of fingers isshown, the parts of the blank at opposite sides of the bottom section19X thereof being thereby started; but as the side b with its attachedend sections b3 is much the heavier the lifter m2 will continue tosupport and raise that side as the former F descends. The inner faces ofthe lips m and m are beveled or inclined, as shown in moving downwardwith the parts in the pof sition shown in Fig. 6, the pressure of theformer upon the blank will cause the sides Z) and b to rise, the tops ofthe platesD D acting as fulcra, and the lips mbegin to turn up thestay-sections b2 and bottom stays b4, while the lips m perform alikeoffice for the gulnmed end sections b3. Now, however, the opposite pairsof plates D D approach the former while the latter descends and the lipsm and m move toward each other,while simultaneously with such movementthe fingers a5 and n are swung upward, carrying the superposed parts ofthe blank into about the position shown in Fig. 7, in which the plates DD have completed their inward movement, it being remembered that theside lifter m2 is actuated by the descending former, as described. Thefolding-up action is continued and completed by the descending former,the lips m folding over the end sections b3 outside of the bottom andstay sections h4 b2, the continued movement of the side lifter m2 to itsdotted? line position, Fig. 7, aiding the lips m' in folding over theend sections b3, the gummed surfaces thereof coming in contact with thebottom and stay sections. The latter areturned angularly against thesides of the former, and when the former has descended to its finalposition, as at F50, dotted lines, Fig. 7, the blank has been completelyfolded and the sides b b are between the adjacent faces of the formerand the side plates D D, and the end followers B B are then moved up togive the final setting or pressure to the end sec-4 tions b and thebottom and stay sections b4 b2. When this occurs, the only portions ofthe box above the throat are the cover-flaps h5 b and the smallrectangular flaps Z920 at the tops ofthe end sections b3, the lips m andm being so located that after they have performed their requisitefunctions they will not interfere in any way with the final folding andcompletion of the boX. The formershaft F has its vertical reciprocationimparted thereto in a substantially well-known manner by means of a linkfzo, connected with a rocker-arm fm, fast on a rock-shaft F2, mounted ona part of the arch Q and rocked by suitable and usual means, the linkfzo being pivoted to a bracket F3, secured to the shaft F.

Referring to Fig. 5, the former is made' hollow and the shaft E istubular, having bearings f22 and f23 for the shedder-rod O, thebearingfzfi being part of a couplingf24, which connects a dash-potchamber f25 with the upper end of the former-shaft F', said chamber atits upper end having an openingfm, the

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size of which is regulated by a valve fi. A coiled spring S10 surroundsthe shedder-rod between the top of the bearing]23 and a collarf23,secured to the rod and having a locking-lugf129 extended laterallythrough a longitudinal slot f3@ in the shaft F', the spring normallyacting to maintain the shedder retracted, as in Fig. 5, `the shedder-rodhaving at its upper end a piston fm, movable in the dash-pot chamber.

A bracket F4 (shown separately in Fig. 2) is rigidly secured to the topof the arch or head Q and has earsfm, extended on each side of the shaftF', and a leverf, bifurcated at its inner end at 742, is fulcrumedbetween the ears on a pin fis, the bifurcated ends of said lever beingslotted at f, Fig. 5, to receive a pin f, extended into vertical slotsf46 in the sides of bracket F4. This pin f5 has mounted upon it a latchf, havingadependingleg carrying a roll fis, held by a spring S12 againstor in position to engage the beveled end of a pin f4, adjustably securedin upright position on bracket F3 by a set-screw 100. The lever f isconnected by a link]50 with a short arm j'51 on the rock-shaft F2, sothat when the latter is turned to depress the former F the link will actto rock the lever, lifting the pin f to the upper ends of the slots j"46and elevating the latch f4?, while at the same time the beveled pin]E49descends, so that the spring S12 operates to swing the latch toward theshaft F in position to snap over and hold the locking-lugffi when it isbrought into coperation with the latch about the time the former F is atits lowest point.

The relative position of former and shedder-rod O has not yet beenchanged from that shown in Fig. 5; but after the box has been formed andthe former begins to rise the latch f47 will prevent rise of theshedder-rod and its foot o will engage the bottom of the box and hold itfrom moving up with the former, While at the saine time the spring S10will be compressed. As the shaft F rises the lever f'11 will graduallyreturn to its normal position, (shown in Fig. 2;) but the spring 12 willstill hold the latch operative with its rollf18 in the path of thecain-rodf, which is rising with the shaft F', and when the beveled endof said rod engages the roll it will swing the latch on its fulcru'm f,withdrawing it from the lugfm, and thereby releasing the shedder-rod.The latter is then lifted by expansion of the spring sw to its normalposition relative to the former shaft F and the former; but the suddenexpansion of the spring is prevented by the dash-pot, so that all shockorjar is prevented, the sliedder-rod resuming its normal retractedposition gradually and at a speed determined by the adjustment of thevalve fi". The release of the shedder is not effected until after theformer F has been withdrawn entirely from the box, and the latter dropsout of the folding-throat as soon as the members B B and D D thereofseparate in readiness to' coperatewith the next blank.

It now remains to describe the blank-supporting means onto which theblanks are delivered Witha sliding movement by the blankconveyer and themeans for accurately positioning each blank upon the supporting means inreadiness to be acted upon by the box-forming mechanism. Theblank-supporting means consist of tracks K, located in parallelismoutside of the end followers B B and supported on transverse rods KX,mounted in the arch Q, said tracks supporting the longitudinal edges ofthe blank and in this instance the outer longitudinal edges of the sidesections b3 of the blank, lateral movement of the blank being preventedby the upright sides k of the tracks. These sides are provided withoverhanging guards 7o at the en ds nearer the blank-pile, the free endsof the guards being preferably upturned, as shown in Fig. 4, the `guardspreventing the leading portion of the blank from dying up as theconveyer-rods h ca rry the blank forward and slide it along the tracksK.

A back-stop E10, shown as a strip of metal secured to the bed QX of theframe, Figs. 3 and 4, is arranged to accurately position the backtransverse edge of the blank when the former Fl descends, the upperhorizontal portion of the back-stop having raised lips or shoulders el@for the purpose of engaging the blank midway between its sides.Considerable momentum is imparted to the blank by the blankconveyer asit slides the blank onto and along the tracks K, and it has been foundthat if a fixed stop is provided to limit the feed movement of the blankthe latter will sometimes hit the stop with sufficient force to canse itto rebound somewhat, and the resulting inaccurate position of the blankwill cause an imperfect box to be made. To overcome this objection, Ihave provided a stop, which normally is beyond the position desired forthe coperating transverse edge of the blank, means being provided tomove the stop in a retrograde direction to a predetermined point afterthe blank has been deposited by the blank-conveyor. This final positionof the stop is such as to position the blank with absolute accuracy, andthe initial position of the blank is such that the maximum momentum of ablank can only carry it up tothe stop, and ordinarily the blank may notquite reach the stop. Then on the retrograde movement of the latter,which preferably is slow, the blank will be moved more or lessoppositely to its feed movement into the precise position requisite toperfect action thereupon by the box-forming mechanism, the back-stopreferred to preventing any accidental rearward movement of the blankbeyond proper position. So far as l am aware this mode of effecting thefinal positioning IOO into the path of the leading edge ofthe blank.

A rod c3 connects the slides n and projects at each side beyond them toloosely enter forked arms '114, fast on a rock-shaft o5, mounted inbearings V on the main frame of the machine,

gthefends of the rods being thus slidable in the/arms v4 when the endfollowers B B are moved in and out. The rock-shaft has a rocker-arm USX,to which is pivotally con-` nected a link fu, forked at its upper end at07 Fig. 2b, to embrace the rock-shaft F2, which operates the former F,said rock-shaft having secured to it a collar 1;8, provided with a wing09, in which a cam-groove n10 is formed to receive a roller or otherstud U12 on the link v6.

` In Fig. 2 the blank-conveyer is shown as having just delivered a blankto the blanksupporting means described and just about to return for thenext blank to be fed and Y.the stops @X are stationary in the path ofthe leading edge of the blank, a similar condition of affairs beingshown in Figs. 3 and 4. Now the former descends, due to turning of therock-shaft F2, and as the latter turns the wing Q29 moves in thedirection of arrow 102, Fig. 2b, the cam-groove om acting on the studU12 to lift the link v6 slowly, and thereby to move the slides o by theconnections described to the right, Figs. 3 and 4. The slow inwardmovement of the stops @X thus produced causes them to act upon the blankand move it from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 t-o the right justfar enough to place the blank in absolutely correct position, and theformer F descends upon it and the folding begins. Reverse movement ofthe wing o9 restores the stops to their normal position in readiness forthe next blank as the former returns to its uppermost position, so thatthe stops are ready to prevent any possible overrunning of the blank.The tracks K are slightly higher than the tops of the conveyerrods, sothat when they return they cannot carry the blank backward, the leadingedge of the blank riding up over the back-stop E10 on its feedingmovement and thence onto the tracks as the abutment-hooks hl continuethe feed movement of the blank. The distance between the back-stopshoulders elo and the final inward position of the stops @X is equal tothe extreme distance between the leading and rear edges of the blank.When l at rest, the side lifter m2 rests on the rod v3 between the stopcarriers or slides Q), as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Various changes or modifications may be made in different details ofconstruction andY arrangement of the several novel features of myinvention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as I haveshown and described herein one practical embodiment of my invention. f

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire ltosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a paper-box machine, a blank-pile support, upright,longitudinally-notched gages to position the blank-pile at theleadingcorners thereof, a glimmer-picker to gum and lift the topmostblank of the pile, and a fiat, separator-blade located between the gagesto act upon the blanks between their leading corners and separate thenext blank from the topmost blank when the latter is lifted.

2. In a paper-box machine, a support for a pile of slitted blankssuperposed one upon another, agummer-picker to gum and lift the topmostblank of the pile, and a fixed thin and flat separator-blade to enterthe slits of the blanks and by frictional engagement with the oppositeedges of the slit thereof overcome lifting of the second blank due tosuction between it and the topmost blank.

3. In a paper-box machine, a'support for a pile of slitted blankssuperposed 'one upon another, a glimmer-picker to gum and lift thetopmost blank of the pile, and a plurality of upright, thin and fiatparallel blades to enter the slits of the blanks and by frictionalengagement with the opposed slitted edges prevent lifting of a pluralityof blanks simultaneously by the operation of the gummerpicker.

4. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, means to support theblank to be acted upon thereby, a blankconveyer to convey a blank tosaid supporting means, and independent movable means to engage the blankand effect its accurate positioning relative to the forming mechanism.

5. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, means to support theblank to IOO TIO

be acted upon thereby, a blank-conveyer to conveyblanks one by one tosaid supporting means, and means movable oppositely to the feed movementof a blank, to engage the leading end of and move a blank into positionto be acted upon by the box-forming mechanism.

6. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, means to support theblank to be acted upon thereby, a blank-conveyer to convey a blank tosaid supporting means, and means intermittingly movable opposite to feedmovement of the blank to engage the leading end of the blank andaccurately position it upon the supporting means.

7. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, means to support theblank to be acted upon thereby, a blank-conveyer to convey a blank tosaid supporting means, a device in the path of movement of the blank,

to stop its forward movement due to the action of'the conveyer, andmeans to thereafter move said device oppositely to feed movement of theblank, and accurately position the latter relatively to the formingmechanism;

S. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, a reciprocatingblank-conveyer to convey a blank to said mechanism, a positioning deviceto engage the conveyed blank and by retrograde movement thereofaccurately position it relatively to said forming mechanism, and meansto intermittingly actuate said positioning device.

9. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, blank-supportingmeans, a horizontally-reciprocating conveyer to convey a blank to saidmeans, a device in the path of movement of and to permit the blank tomove beyond its proper position relative to the boxforming mechanism,and means to thereafter impart a slow movement to said device oppositelyto the feed movement of the blank, to

engage the latter and effect its accurate positioning relative to thebox-forming 'mechanism.

10. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, blank-supportingmeans, a conveyer to engage and slide a blank longitudinally upon saidmeans, a device in the path of the leading end of the blank, and meansto move said device to accurately position the blank after the same hasbeen slid upon the supporting means. y

l1. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, blank-supportingmeans, a reciprocating conveyer to engage and slide a blanklongitudinally upon said means, intermittingly-operative means tothereafter accurately effect the positioning of the blank relative tothe box-forming mechanism, and a lixed back-stop to limit retrogrademovement of the blank.

l2. In a machine for making'paper boxes from blanks of the charactersubstantially as specied, the combination With box-forming mechanism, ofblank-supporting means, a horizontally-reciprocating blank-conveyer toconveya blank to and slide it upon said means, stops in the path of atransverse leading edge of the blank, said stops being beyond the properposition for such edge When the blank is slid upon the supporting means,and means to thereafter move the stops oppositely to the feed movementof the blank, to engage the leading edge thereof and accurately positionthe blank relatively to the box-forming mechanism.

13. In a paper-box machine, a blank-conveyer comprising parallel,horizontally-reciprocating rods, abutments adjustably mounted thereon,to engage the blank, a cross-bar, means to reciprocate it, andannular-lygrooved rolls mounted in pairs on the rods and adapted toengage opposite sides of the cross-bar, to connect the latter and therods and permit free movement of the latter toward and from each other,the grooves of the rolls preventing disengagement of the rods andcross-bar.

14. In a machine of the class described, boxforming mechanism, ablank-support, comprising parallel, stationary tracks above thebox-forming mechanism to receive and support a blank; means to adj ustthe tracks-toward and from each other; a blank-conveyor to conveyl ablank to the blank-support, and independent means to accurately positionthe blank upon the blank-support.

15. In a machine of the class described, a folding-throat, stationarytracks to support the blank at its sides above the throat, overhangingguards at the inlet ends of the tracks, a back-stop for the blank, andmeans movable oppositely to feed movement of the blank to engage thelatter and effect its accurate positioning on the tracks subsequent tothe delivery of the blanks thereupon by the conveyer.

16. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism comprising avertically-reciprocating former and a cooperating foldingthroat;parallel tracks to engage the longitudinal edges of and support a blankover the folding-throat; overhanging guards at the inlet ends of thetracks, to prevent lifting of the blank; ahorizontally-reciprocatingblankconveyer to engage a blank and slide it beneath the guards upon thetracks, the latter being higher than the top of the blank-conveyer, andmeans to lift the leading edge of the blank being fed to the level ofthe tracks.

17. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism comprising avertically-reciprocating former and a coperating foldingthroat; paralleltracks to engage the longitudinal edges of and support a blank over thefolding-throat; overhanging guards at the inlet ends of the tracks, toprevent lifting of the blank; ahorizontally-reciprocating blankconveyerto engage a blank and slide it beneath the guards upon the tracks, thelatter being higher than the top of the blank-conveyer, means to liftthe leading edge of the blank being fed to the level of the tracks, aback-stop for the rear edge of and to prevent retrograde movement of ablank, and means to engage the blank after it has been deposited on thetracks, and to move it back against the back-stop.

1S. In a paper-box machine, a horizontallyreciprocatingblank-conveyer,`a verticallyreciprocating former, a cooperatingfoldingthroat comprising end followers and upstanding side plates,blank-supporting tracks fixedly mounted outside of and parallel to theend followers, the tracks being higher than the level of theblank-conveyer, means to lift the leading end of the blank being fed tothe track-level, a back-stop for the blank, and means operative afterdeposit of the blank upon the tracks to accurately position such blankrelatively to the folding-throat and former.

19. In a paper-box machine, a former, a co- IOO IIO

operatingfolding-throatcomprisingapproaching and receding side-foldingplates, and end followers,andindependently-operatingmeans to engage andlift the side portions of the blank, operating in conjunction with thefolding-throat, said means including pairs of elongated,pivotally-mounted fingers, and mechanism indep'endentof the former toswing said fingers positively.

20. In a machine for making paper boxes from blanks of the charactersubstantially as specified, the combination with averticallyreciprocating former, of a cooperating folding-throatcomprising end followers, and approaching and receding, upstandingsidefolding plates; a separately-actuated sidelifter to act upon theunder surface of one side section of the blank and swing it up against aVertical face of the former, and means actuated independently of butoperating in conjunction with the side-folding Aplates to engage neartheir edges, and lift the side sections of the blank.

2l. In a paper-box machine, the combination with thevertically-reciprocating former, and lthe movable members constitutingthe contractible folding throat beneath the former, ofindependently-actuated means to engage and lift the side sections of ablank contemporaneously with the descent of the former and thecontraction of the foldingthroat.

22. In a paper-box machine, the combination with thevertically-reciprocating former, and the movable members constitutingthe contractible folding-throat beneath the former, of pairs ofelongated fingers mounted to swing in vertical planes and adapted toengage the under surfaces of and lift the side sections of the box atthe beginning of the folding operation, and means to actuate the iingersindependently of the throat-forming members, the fingers preventingbending down of the supported portions of the blank as the former andthroat-forming members cooperate.

23. In a paper-box machine, the combination with thevertically-reciprocating former, and the movable members constitutingthe contractible folding-throat beneath the former, a device to engageone of the side sections of the blank midwaybet-ween its sides, meansactuated by or through descent of the former to swing said device upwardand thereby lift the portion of the blank sustained thereby, andindependently-actuated pairs of swinging fingers to engage and lift oneside section and the two end sections of the blank at the beginning ofthe folding of the blank by cooperation of the former and thethroat-forming members.

24:. In a paper-box machine, a verticallyreciprocating former, acooperating contractible folding-throat comprising movable end followersand approaching and receding sidefolding plates arranged in oppositepairs, a

side-lifter fulcrumed between one pair of said plates and having acamend in the path of the former, said lifter being swung upward by theaction of the former upon its cam end, to lift the overlying sidesection of the blank, and independent swinging fingers operated by orthrough inward movement of the side plates to engage and lift both theside sections of the blank preparatory to complete cooperation of theformer and folding-throat.

25. In a machine for making boxes from blanks having side sections andend sections on one of the side sections, a former, a contractiblefolding-throat, means to engage the side sections and swing them upwardat the commencement of the folding operatiomand means to engage and liftthe end sections at such time, said means being separate from andoperating independently of the means for lifting the side section towhich the end sections are attached.

26. In a paper-box machine, the combination with the reciprocatingformer, acontractible folding-throat with which it coperates, and meansto support the blank in position to be operated thereby, of means,including pivotally-mounted elongated fingers located at opposite sidesof the former-path to engage and swing the side sections of the blankupward from the horizontal as the former begins to depress the bottomsection of the blank into the folding-throat, connections between and tomove the fingers ontheir fulcra in unison in opposite directions, andmeans independent of the form er to positively swing the fingers.

27. In a machine for making boxes from blanks having end-formingsections and sideforming sections, a reciprocating former, acontractible folding-throat coperating'therewith, means operatingindependently of the folding-throat to lift the side-forming sections asthe former enters the folding-throat, l

and separate means to simultaneously engage and lift the end-formingsections.

28. In a machine for making boxes from blanks having long side sections,and endforming sections on one of the side sections, the combinationwith a blank-support, a contractible folding-throat beneath thesupported blank, and a vertically-reciprocating former above and toenter said throat, of upwardlyswinging and independently-actuateddevices to extend beneath and lift the side sections, means to similarlycooperate with and lift the end-forming sections, said means beingoperatively connected with one of the upwardlyswinging devices, andseparate mechanism to operate said swinging devices as the formerdescends upon thel blank and begins to depress the latter into thefolding-throat.

29. In a paper-box machine, a glimmer'- picker to gum and lift the topmost blank from a pile of blanks, box-forming mechanism, a blank-conveyerto engage the lifted blank and convey the same to theboX-f'ormingmechan- ICO ,ism, and automatic means to thereafter effeetthe accurate positioning of the blank relative to the box-formingmechanism.

30. In a paper-box machine, a gummerpicker to gum and lift the topmostblank-from a pile of blanks, box-forming mechanism, a blank-conveyertoengage the lifted blank and convey the same to the box-formingmechanism, and intermittingly-movable means to stop the feed movement ofthe blank delivered by the blank-conveyer and thereafter toautomatically effect the accurate positioning of the blank relative tothe box-forming mechanism.

3l. In a paper-boX-making machine, boxforming mechanism, including areciprocating former,a blank-conveyer to convey blanks singly to saidmechanism, means to engage and position the blank when delivered by theconveyer, and actuating connections between said means and the former,to accurately position the blank simultaneously with the descent of theformer.

32. In a paper-box-making machine, boxforming mechanism, including areciprocating for1ner,a blank-conveyer to convey blanks singly to saidmechanism, intermittinglymovable means to effect the accuratepositioning of the blank relatively to the boX- forming mechanism, andactuating connections between the former and said means, to operate thelatter and position the blank as the former is about to engage it.

33. In a paper-box machine, a verticallyreciprocating former, means,including a rock-shaft, to actuate it, a cam on said rockshaft, afolding-throat below and to coperate with the former, a conveyer to feedblanks one by one between the former and the folding-throat, a stop inthe path of and to limit feed movement of the'blank, and connectionsbetween the cam and stop, to move the latter and position the blankaccurately immediately before the descent of the former upon the blank.

34. In a paper-box machine, a verticallyreciprocating former, acooperating contractible folding-throat comprising end followers andside-folding plates, a blank-conveyer,

stop-carriers slidably mounted on the end followers and having upturnedstops in the path of the leading edge of the blank, and means to slidethe stop-carriers simultaneously opposite to feed movement of the blank,to accurately position the latter relativev to the folding-throat andformer.

35. In a paper-box machine, a verticallyreciprocating former, acooperating contractible folding-throat comprising end followers andside-folding plates, a blank-conveyer, stop-carriers slidably mounted onthe end followers and having upturned stops in the path of the leadingedge of the blank, and means actuated by the movement of the former tomove the stop-carriers opposite to feed movement of the blank as theformer descends, to position the blank, and to return said stopcarriersand their stops to normal position as the former rises.

36. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, including a former, ashedder Working therethrough, means to eifect downward movement of theshedder in unison with the former, a device to hold the shedder down andstationary when the former rises, to thereby shed the box, and means torelease the shedder thereafter from the control of the retaining device.

37. In a paper-box machine, a former, a tubular,vertically-reciprocating shaft to actuate it, a shedder Workinglongitudinally in said former and its shaft, means to eect downwardmovement of the shedder and former in unison, and means to hold theshedder down and stationary temporarily when.

the former rises, to thereby shed the box from the former. V

38. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, including a former,a' shedder working therethrough, a 'spring to lift the shedder, means tohold the shedder down and stationary when the former rises, to therebyshed the box from the former, and a device to thereafter automaticallyrelease the shedder and permit the spring to lift it into normalposition relative to the former.

39. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, including a former, ashedder working therethrough, a retracting-spring for the shedder, meansto temporarily hold the shedder down and stationary as the formerascends, to strip the box therefrom, and to release the shedder at apredetermined rise of the former, and means to cushion the releasedshedder.

40. In a paper-box machine, box-forming mechanism, including a former, ashedder working therethrough, a retracting-spring for the shedder, meansto temporarily hold the shedder down and stationary as the formerascends, to strip the box therefrom, and to release the shedder at apredetermined rise of the former, and a pneumatic cushioning device tocontrol the ,spring-actuated retractile stroke of the shedder.

41. In a paper-box machine, a hollow, vertically-reciprocating shaft, aformer attached thereto, a shedder working longitudinally in the shaftand former and having a laterallyprojecting lug, a retracting-spring forthe shedder, a latch to engage the lug when the former and shedder havedescended to a predetermined point, to hold the shedder stationary whenthe former rises, and a device movable with the former to disengage thelatch and lug, and thereby release the shedder, when the former hasascended a predetermined distance.

42. In a paper-box machine, a hollow, vertically-reciprocating shafthaving a longitudinal slot, a lug on the shedder extended through saidslot, a spring within the latter to lift the shedder and retract it, alatch to automatically engage said lug upon the de- IOO scent in unisonof the former and shedder to a predetermined point, to hold the shedderdown when the former ascends, compressing the spring, and means operatedby ascentof the former to render said latch inoperative after the boxhas been shed, permitting the spring to expand and lift the shedder,retracting it to normal posit-ion.

43. In a paper-box lnachine, a hollow, vertically-reciprocating shafthaving a longitudinal slot, a lug on the shedder extended through saidslot, a spring within the latter to lift the shedder and retract it, alatch to automatically engage said lug upon the descent in unison ot theformer and shedder to a predetermined point, to hold the shedder downwhen the former ascends, compressing the spring, means operated byascent of the former to release the shedder after it has shed the boxfrom the former, permitting the spring to expand and retract theshedder, and an adjustable device to cushion the retractile movement ofthe shedder.

44. In a paper-box machine, a reciprocat ing former anda containedshedder movable `in unison therewith on the operating stroke thereof,means to temporarily hold the shedder stationary When the former, movesback after operating, to strip the box from said former, and means toreturn the shedder when released to normal, retracted position.

45. In a paper-box machine, a reciprocating former and a containedshedder movable r.in unison therewith on the operating stroke thereof,means to lock and hold the shedder stationary and thereby project itfrom the `former on the return stroke thereof, to shed

